Video Information


Below: A news report dealing with an eight-year-old boy living in Ohio who was removed from his parents in 2011 because of their failure to deal with his obesity.




Below: A 2009 report of a Scottish couple who have had two of their children taken into care because of unresolved obesity issues.




Below: A controversial Australian ad designed to heighten parents awareness of the dangers of feeding their children junk food.




Below:A 2011 Channel 10 news report on a federally funded program to encourage vegetable growing and eating in Australian schools.




Below:A January 2013 Channel 7 news report detailing health authorities calling for a sugar tax on soft drinks.






Web links, documents


On June 12, 2014, news.com.au published a report titled 'Single parents are more likely to have obese kids, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare finds'
The report details the findings of a study conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare of those preconditions which seem to predispose children to obesity.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/single-parents-are-more-likely-to-have-obese-kids-australian-institute-of-health-and-welfare-finds/story-fneuzlbd-1226951040863

On June 7, 2014, The Brisbane Times ran a report titled, 'British parents arrested on cruelty charges over son's weight'
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/british-parents-arrested-on-cruelty-charges-over-sons-weight-20140607-zs0hp.html

On June 7, 2014, essentialbaby.com.au posted a large number of reader responses to the British news report of parents being arrested because of their 11-year-old son's obesity.
These responses can be read at http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/index.php?/topic/1130554-parents-arrested-for-neglect-overweight-child/

On October 22, 2013, The Sydney Morning Herald ran a report titled 'Act on obesity crisis now: professor'
The report details the recommendations of Melbourne University's Professor of Public health, Rob Moodie. The professor argues that more is needed than an emphasis on individual responsibility. Instead what are needed are restrictions on the advertising and marketing of junk food to children and taxation changes to encourage healthier eating.
The full text of this report can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/act-on-obesity-crisis-now-professor-20131021-2vx3h.html

On October 15, 2013, essentialkids.com.au published a comment and analysis titled 'Parents to blame for childhood obesity?' The analysis presents a range of views on parents' role in their children's obesity.
The full text of this analysis can be found at http://www.essentialkids.com.au/younger-kids/kids-nutrition-and-fitness/parents-to-blame-for-childhood-obesity-20131015-2vkhu.html

On October 2, 2012, essentialkids.com.au published a report titled, 'Parents blind to early obesity in children'
The report details the findings of a university of Sydney study indicating that most parents are unable to recognise obesity in their children.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.essentialkids.com.au/preschoolers/preschooler-nutrition-and-fitness/parents-blind-to-early-obesity-in-children-20121002-26wtg.html

On July 20, 2012, The Conversation published an opinion piece titled 'Childhood obesity: are parents really to blame?' by Darren Powell, a doctoral candidate in Health and Physical Education at Charles Sturt University. Powell argues that parents are generally unjustly blamed for their children's obesity that is largely caused by socio-economic forces outside their control.
The full text of this comment can be accessed at http://theconversation.com/childhood-obesity-are-parents-really-to-blame-8325

On July 12, 2012, The Age ran a news report titled 'Is this child abuse? The courts think so'
The report deals with two instances in which Victorian child protection authorities removed children from their parents, in part because the children were obese.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/is-this-child-abuse-the-courts-think-so-20120711-21wdb.html

On April 3, 2012, The Herald Sun published a comment by Susie Burrell titled 'Parents to blame for overweight kids'. Burrell offers parents advice on how to help control their children's weight.
The full text of the comment can be accessed at http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/parents-to-blame-for-overweight-kids/story-fn6bn80a-1226316871466#content

On July 13, 2011, The Times ran a report titled 'Should Parents Lose Custody of Their Extremely Obese Kids?'
The report details the recommendation of Harvard paediatrics professor and obesity expert, David Ludwig, that in extreme cases the parents of obese children should lose custody of their children.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://healthland.time.com/2011/07/13/should-parents-lose-custody-of-their-very-obese-kids/

On June 28, 2007, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) published a report on the recommendation made by the British Medical Association (BMA) that parents of obese children not be charged with neglect.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.bmj.com/content/334/7608/1343.8?tab=citation

On February 13, 2005, The Sydney Morning Herald published a report titled 'Parents to blame for obese children'
The report published Sydney University findings that parental behaviour and modelling were major factors in precipitating childhood obesity.
The full text of this report can be accessed at http://www.smh.com.au/news/Health/Parents-to-blame-for-obese-children/2005/02/12/1108061922855.html?oneclick=true